Data Conversion Method and Apparatus to Partially Hide Data

1. A data conversion method, comprising: reading out contents data to be published, which includes text data, and identifying a character string whose output as text data should be avoided, from the read contents data; converting the identified character string into substitution data other than said text data so as to maintain content of said identified character string; generating publication contents data to maintain publication content of said read contents data by using data other than said identified character string in said read contents data and said substitution data; judging whether a transmission source of a contents data request is registered in a publication refusal list or is not registered in a publication approval list, upon receiving said contents data request; upon detecting that said transmission source of said contents data request is registered in said publication refusal list or is not registered in said publication approval list, transmitting said publication contents data to said transmission source of said contents data request; and upon detecting that said transmission source of said contents data request is not registered in said publication refusal list or is registered in said publication approval list, transmitting said contents data to said transmission source of said contents data request.

2. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reading and identifying include extracting personal information of a predetermined type.

3. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reading and identifying include extracting at least a part of a character string of a predetermined type.

4. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said substitution data is image data or voice data representing said identified character string.

5. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said substitution data is image data representing the identified character string, and said image data includes an image having cursive or irregular fonts corresponding to characters included in said identified character string.

6. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said publication contents data includes reference data to said substitution data.

7. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said publication contents data includes data to display said substitution data in another window.

8. The data conversion method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said publication contents data is data to display a combination of said data other than said identified character string in said contents data and said substitution data.

9. A system, comprising: an input contents storage device storing contents data; a unit to read, from said input contents storage device, out contents data to be published, which includes text data, and identifies a character string whose output as text data should be avoided, from the read contents data; a unit to convert the identified character string into substitution data other than said text data so as to maintain content of said identified character string; a unit to generate publication contents data to maintain publication content of said read contents data by using data other than said identified character string in said read contents data and said substitution data a unit to judge whether a transmission source of a contents data request is registered in a publication refusal list or is not registered in a publication approval list, upon receiving said contents data request; a unit to transmit, upon detecting that said transmission source of said contents data request is registered in said publication refusal list or is not registered in said publication approval list, said publication contents data to said transmission source of said contents data request; and a unit to transmit, upon detecting that said transmission source of said contents data request is not registered in said publication refusal list or is registered in said publication approval list, said contents data to said transmission source of said contents data request.